Game apparatus.



W. C. SCHMITT.

GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 19H5.

Patented July 23, 1918.

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Inventor y /f/)y WILLIAM C. SCHMITT, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 149i8.

Application filed September 22. 1916. Serial No. 121,675.

To all whom t 'may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. SCHMITT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Portland, Multnomah county, State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to game apparatus comprising a subdivided gameboard, -a piece to be played thereon, and a device directing the playing of said piece,

. and my invention is particularly designed for teaching the playing in detail of the game of American intercollegiate football.

As is well known to Sportsmen familiar with the game, intercollegiate yfootball is y governed by aconsiderable number of technical, official rules, which for the greater part are ent1rely indefinite to the average spectator, and are only partially known and understood by the players.

The main object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a table game apparatus,v

by means of which the game of intercollegiate football may be played on a miniature field, and in which game the official rules will be brought directly to the observation ofthe player, so that he must interpret them and enforce the resulting penalty before the game can proceed further. In this way the technicalities of the game may be carefully studied by their practical application. l

This game apparatus, in additional to eing an educational device, provides a mo t entertainingr and interesting pastime, for by means of it complete football games may be played, identical in scope and action with the outdoor game. Said apparatus comprises a playing field, a piece representing a football, and a device directing the placing of the ball about on the field in correspondence with an assumed play, said device being adapted to direct the playing of the piece in conformity with the offici al football rules.

My game apparatus is illustrated in diagram form in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of f the playing field;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the ball;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the yard-sticks by means of which the progress of the ball -on the field is marked; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic planv view ofthe play-indicating device on which each play is made.

The field, a, commonly called a gridiron, is scaled to the proper dimensions of a regulation gridiron. For the purpose of convenience, this field is laid off in rectangles Z), one yard square, the sides of the rectangles `being parallel to the sides and ends of the field. As Fig. l is strictly a diagrammatic view, the complete marking of the field is not shown, but is only partially illustrated. The numerals along the lower sideline indicate lines parallel to the goal lines and distant therefromthe number of yards which the numerals represent. These numerals represent the usual line markings of an outdoor gridiron, and furnish a means by which the approximate p'osition of the ball on the field, with respect to its distance from the nearest goal line,I may be readily noted by inspection.

v`c are the side lines, d the goal lines and e the end lines. Goal posts f are located on the goal lines as shown. The ball g is made with a flat base, and its exact position on the field is marked by its forward end, as is usual in the outdoor game. For the purpose of convenience, the measurements are all made in integral yards, so therefore the forward end of the ball will always register with an intersection of the dividing lines. The yardsticks It are made with ten graduationsone yard apart, and these yardsticks are used along the side line to mark the p0- sition and progress of the ball in thesame manner as the ordinary yardsticks are used in outdoor games. v

As is well known to anyone familiar with football, the team havingI the ball must-put it in play in one of seven ways. Sometimes the ball must be ut in play in a certain manner, and at otlier times the player has a choice of selecting the manner. These bers and letters, either alone or in combina- A spinner hand j is rotatably mounted atl the center of the rings z' and is made with a radial edge r. Index numbers, from 1 to 7 inclusive, formed on the spinner, register with the correspondingly numbered rings, enable the player to readily locate any ring desired. e

It is to be noted that the rings z' are numbered in the same order in which the previous enumeration is made. Therefore, When a player is in possession of the ball he chooses 'a play, in the same manner that he would in playing in an outdoor game, makes thelay by twirling the spinner, and moves the ball on the field to the position indicated by the indicia over Which the radial edge k of the spinner comes to rest. The play Which he chooses to make automatically indicates the ring on which the result of the play is read.v

Positioned adjacent the spinner and rings are seven columns, numbered in order, as shown. Each column comprises a plurality of letters With an explanatory note after each,v

letter, followed by a numeral. Each letter in any column relates tothe same letter in the corresponding ring z'.

Referring now to the indicia, the outer number in any space indicates the distance in yards that the ball `is to be moved ahead,

as the result of a play, While the inner number indicates the distance, inv yards, that the ball is to be moved to the right or le as the result of the same play, the`directi being previously called by the player, Who has the choice of making the play either to the right or left. If there is no letter in the' space, it is assumed that the play Was legal' and the ball is therefore moved to the point indicated by the numerals, Without further delay. 'If,hovvever, a letter is found in the space, it is known that the. play just made was illegal, or of a questionable nature. By

referring to the corresponding letter in the corresponding column, the detail of the play, together With the penalty to be inflicted, Will be found. v

The ofiicial rules which govern theoutside game of football govern also the game of my invention. In Fig. el, I have not shoyyn the play indicator completely in detail.

Assuming that a game is to be played,

the players toss up Aa coin. The Winner of the toss will then elect to put the ball-in play, While the loser selects his goal.- TheA olicial rules prescribe that the ball must be put in play at the beginning of a game by a kick-off. Therefore the player Will put the ball on his own forty yard-line, call the di rection the play is to be made in, and puts the ball in play bya kick-olf, which means that the play will be read on ring 4. vThe ball then goes to the opponent at' the point indicated. Said opponent then selects and makes a'play in accordance With'the ollicial`y` rules.

I claim: y

In a game apparatus of the character described, a selective playing device comprising a base anda pointer rotatable thereon, the base being provided vWith a series of concentric circles and radii and having symbols in the spaces formed 4by the intersections 4of the circles and the radii, and the' index end of the pointer being marked with selective characters located with respectA lto tllle concentric divisions formed by said circ es.

WILLIAM C. SCHMITT. 

